KUWAIT, March 29, 2015 – The Kuwait Ministry of Education and the National Center for Education Development (NCED) and the World Bank have launched today a five-year technical cooperation agreement fo... Show More +cused on education reforms. The program which will support capacity building, improve the quality of the teaching and learning, and monitor impact on schools and students builds on earlier work that focused on systemic improvement of education.The second phase of the School Education Quality Improvement Project being launched will focus primarily on implementing reforms geared towards improving teaching and learning as well as monitoring the progress and impact of implementation on schools and students. It will also aim to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Education and the NCED in policy, decision-making and implementation of integrated reforms.“The World Bank’s relationship with Kuwait dates back for more than 40 years,” said Dr. Merza Hasan, World Bank Group Executive Director and Dean of the Board. “The work on the education program is a clear example of how strategic long-term collaboration can be effective in setting the stage for meaningful and effective reforms. This is a reform developed by Kuwait for Kuwait.”The program is grounded in the Kuwait National Education Development Plan and is aligned closely with the ministry’s Integrated Education Reform Program. The World Bank has provided support on a series of quality-related reforms in the first phase of the School Education Quality Improvement Project. The project focused on learning outcomes, curriculum enhancement and development, effective teaching and school leadership, strengthening the education development center and its capacity for national assessment, and developing national education standards.“Despite facing many initial and then field-level challenges, a solid foundation for assessing and tracking system and student performance has been developed through our collaboration with the World Bank,” said Dr Ridha Al Khayyat, Director General of Kuwait’s National Center for Education Development (NCED). “This Integrated Education Reform Program (IERP) will allow us to further develop the system and boost the quality of education leading to more graduates with better competencies.”The first phase of the project, which closes end of March, focused primarily on assisting the Ministry of Education and NCED in identifying and assessing variables associated with improving the quality of education in Kuwait, building technical capacity to carry out those reforms, and providing guidance on the reform designs. The second phase, starting 2015, will focus on implementation and capacity building. “This new program marks a significant next step in the reform of Kuwait’s education system. The integrated approach developed in the second phase of the program will allow Kuwait to develop a truly comprehensive 21st century education system,” said Amit Dar, World Bank Director of the Education Global Practice. Show Less -

A recent evaluation of the new policies and practices shows better planning to lead to better teaching practices, more community involvement, and signs of improvement in students’ learning. A national... Show More + learning assessment was developed based on international best practice: Created by NCED, it has looked at learning in grades 5, 9, and 12 for three years now. Likewise, standards for teachers, school leaders, and students were developed by teams made up of a broad range of participants.Over the course of the project, 805 individuals took part in training and capacity building. The ability of the MOE and NCED to mobilize and motivate teams to lead, advocate and embrace change, was strengthened, with staff empowered to serve as agents for change, forming communities of learning to lead knowledge transfer. The new English curriculum is a case in point: It was so enthusiastically received that English departments actually put it into practice ahead of schedule. School principals took the initiative to form communities of practice to represent principals at primary, intermediate, and secondary-stage levels of education. These now serve as mentors and coaches to other principals—as the MOE’s direct communications link for reform at school-level, they have become a key source for professional development for teachers. The Technical Cooperation Program (TCP)’s objective is to allow Kuwait to carry out technical work on education with less reliance on external agencies. The program emphasizes capacity building, advisory and analytical services, and support for implementation (not to be confused with direct implementation or service delivery). The TCP ending now has created integrated approaches to reform, based on a framework developed with MOE officials and senior teaching practitioners. It has prepared a solid foundation for the future. In the new TCP—to be carried out over the next five years—the same comprehensive approach will be used to continue to shape a 21st century system of education.See Kuwait Education Achievement Report or contact Shahram Paksima at s.paksima@worldbank.org Show Less -

This Program Achievement Report (PAR) captures the accomplishments of the intensive effort the Kuwait Ministry of Education and the World Bank has undertaken in cooperation with the World Bank. This m... Show More +ulti-year, integrated modernization program addresses critical issues in Kuwait’s education system: curricular reform, the development of national assessment systems, improvement of school leadership, and creation of professional standards.As the current phase of the program comes to an end, capturing the accomplishments of this intensive effort and documenting lessons learned are valuable practices that can serve to inform future programs for education development in Kuwait and elsewhere. The intent of this PAR is to qualitatively and retrospectively take stock of major achievements and highlight lessons learned during the Education Technical Cooperation Program (2010-2014). The PAR can also serve as a guide for structuring and organizing future cooperation programs. Show Less -

TUNIS, March 19, 2015— The World Bank’s Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, Sri Mulyani Indrawati today concluded an official visit to Tunisia. Dr Indrawati reaffirmed Bank support for the ... Show More +country’s development and stability, especially following the tragic attack on the Bardo museum that coincided with her visit. The Bank’s high-level delegation included Hafez Ghanem, the World Bank Regional Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa, who was on his first official mission to Tunisia in his new post.During their visit, Dr. Indrawati and her delegation met with Tunisia’s President Béji Caid Essebsi and Prime Minister Habib Essid, along with members of his cabinet. Dr. Indrawati praised the commitment to dialogue and consensus that sustained Tunisia’s political progress and pledged both Bank resources and global knowledge in support of the post-transition period.“During my meeting with the Tunisian President we discussed the importance of consolidating political achievements with economic reforms,” Dr. Indrawati said. “The World Bank will be a committed partner in meeting this goal, as we are more resolved than ever to support Tunisia in laying the foundations for sustainable and inclusive growth.”Her visit marks the starting point for developing a new five-year strategy for World Bank Group cooperation with Tunisia during the 2016 to 2020 period. The process will involve extensive consultations with the country’s government, civil society, labor unions, and private sector. The Bank’s work will focus on improving Tunisia’s business climate, expanding access to credit, increasing transparency and accountability in government, raising the quality and relevance of education, and making labor markets more efficient. The Bank has committed around US$4 billion to finance the implementation of the strategy. “The consensus that drove the political transition now provides an opportunity to address key economic reforms,” said Dr Ghanem “The parliament can play a critical role in harnessing that consensus for the implementation of reforms that can transform the economy.” For a full understanding of the country’s current economic, social, and political priorities, Dr. Indrawati and her delegation met with a diverse range of civil society representatives. Dr. Indrawati also participated in a university debate at the Higher Institute for the Study of Commerce, where she heard the views of the country’s young people and discussed her own experiences with transition as finance minister of Indonesia. The delegation also visited an urban water supply project financed by the Bank, and aimed at supporting the national water utility, SONEDE meet rising demand.The World Bank Group’s US$1.2 billion portfolio in Tunisia comprises 22 investment and technical assistance projects, including 10 loans and 12 grants (worth about US$51 million) focused on water and sanitation, wastewater, decentralization, financing for micro, small, and medium enterprises, and higher education and rural development in some of Tunisia’s more underdeveloped regions. Show Less -

Redha, a 20-year-old mother of two, works on the project, offering tourists and other visitors specialty foods local to Upper Egypt. “I got this job after I visited the project out of curiosity,” she ... Show More +said. Redha used to work outside in a field opposite the project. Another lady, Um Amr, a woman from a neighboring village, said her husband encouraged her to expand her skills and earn money working on the project.Mervat spent part of her career teaching psychiatry at universities in the United Kingdom. Back home, she wants to draw attention to the attractions of Egypt’s ancient architecture and preserve foods that are in danger of disappearing. The project is set up on two feddans in Tona el Gabal, less than 3 km from the ancient city of Hermopolis, which dates back thousands of years to Pharaonic, Greek, and Roman times. The scope of the project includes a hotel built in keeping with the ancient architecture the area is known for, and a cultural center. Mervat’s ambitions do not stop there, though; they also stretch to planting the types of fruit trees that were grown in Pharaonic Egypt, including olives and pomegranates.The World Bank Group’s Development Marketplace, in collaboration with international and local partners, chose Mervat’s Foundation for Innovation and Development as one of 35 grantees across 14 Egyptian governorates selected for the 2013 Egypt Development Marketplace (DM). Each grantee was given US$ 25,000, as well as capacity development and technical assistance to improve the sustainability and scalability of their project.Financed by the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, and a number of donor countries, the Egypt DM provided US$ 1.25 million to help create jobs and revive and preserve handicrafts at risk of dying out.The Development Marketplace is a multifaceted program dedicated to identifying, supporting and scaling up social enterprises with innovative business models that have the potential for significantly improving the lives and services of impoverished and under-served communities. Show Less -

TUNIS, March 19, 2015—World Bank Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer Sri Mulyani Indrawati issued the following statement today:“On behalf of the World Bank Group I would like to express my ... Show More +deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and to the people and government of Tunisia.I am deeply saddened by the horrific attacks that occurred at the historical Bardo museum in Tunis.As an example of a successful democratic transition, Tunisia stands as a beacon for the region. Since 2011, Tunisians have passed hurdle after hurdle and proved their deepest commitment to transform their country in a peaceful way.This attack, which occurred during my visit to Tunisia, will only strengthen our resolve to stand by the Tunisian people and support the government in creating shared and equitable growth.” Show Less -

CAIRO, March 17, 2015 - World Bank Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer Sri Mulyani Indrawati concluded a three-day visit to Egypt where she participated in the Economic Development Conferenc... Show More +e aimed at attracting international investors. She led high level meetings on advancing the ongoing dialogue on the country’s reform agenda with government officials, and reiterated continued commitment to support the people of Egypt. Hafez Ghanem, World Bank’s Regional Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa, was part of the high level delegation.Dr. Indrawati met with government officials during her stay in Egypt including Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab, development partners, private sector experts and civil society representatives. In her discussions, Dr. Indrawati underscored the importance of staying the course on reforms and building institutional capacity to restore private sector confidence and gain the people’s trust. Unleashing the potential of the private sector can create the jobs Egyptians need to build better lives for themselves. “Egypt faces many challenges as a result of the tumultuous changes of the last four years but transitions can pave the way for socially inclusive and equitable economic reforms,” said World Bank Managing Director Sri Mulyani Indrawati. “For the next five years, we have agreed with the government of Egypt on focusing on creating jobs through the private sector especially for young people, and improving governance to achieve social and economic progress.”Following the participation at the conference, Dr. Indrawati met with a group of young leaders to listen to the challenges they are facing and get an insight on their views on development priorities and how the Bank can best support Egypt. The delegation also visited Upper Egypt and met with civil society representatives and local investors in Aswan. World Bank-supported site visits included the Enhancing Access to Finance for Micro and Small Enterprises and Emergency Labor Intensive Investment projects which focus on employment creation and service delivery for underserved communities. “In Aswan, we were pleased to engage with various stakeholders on how best the World Bank Group can support job creation and improve service delivery and contribute to the development of Upper Egypt,” said Hafez Ghanem.The World Bank Group in Egypt: The current portfolio of the World Bank Group in Egypt includes 26 projects for a total commitment of US$5.4 billion in FY15, including 17 IBRD lending operations ($5.27 billion) and 9 major Trust Funds ($139.6 million). The World Bank finances projects for faster delivery of benefits to the people of Egypt in key sectors including energy, transport, water and sanitation, agriculture and irrigation as well as health and education. Between FY11-14, IFC committed a total of almost $1.1 billion in 20 projects (of which $392 million is mobilization). IFC has focused on supporting companies with the ability to create jobs, boosting access to finance for small and medium enterprises, and demonstrating Egypt's long-term potential to investors. IFC has also worked on promoting regulatory reforms designed to spur economic growth; and boosting the skills of young job seekers.In FY2013, MIGA issued a guarantee for US$150 million, reinsuring the United States Overseas Private Investment Corporation’s coverage to Apache Corporation for the exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas helping to keep up the supply of energy with the growing domestic demand. Show Less -

Excellencies. Ladies and Gentlemen. It is a great pleasure to be here today on behalf of the World Bank Group.This event marks an important step for Egypt. It shows that Egypt is open for business. It... Show More + gives the world the opportunity to learn more about the country’s vision. For us at the World Bank Group it is part of our ongoing dialogue. It is a chance to identify better ways in which we can support Egypt in building a sound and equitable economic foundation that benefits all of its people.But as we all know well, the country is facing challenges. This conference comes after four years of tumultuous political transition. Transitions are difficult. But they can pave the way for socially inclusive and equitable economic reforms.Despite the challenges, there are signs that Egypt could be on the right track.We see promising attempts to address the macro economic imbalances, for example by reducing the fiscal deficit. They could bear fruit when spending is adjusted in favor of areas that improve productivity and address inequality. One such area is infrastructure: Investing in infrastructure projects could provide jobs for low-skilled workers. Improving public transport will increase mobility while giving more people better access to the formal private sector. Safe and reliable public transport also encourages women to join the workforce.While fiscal adjustment is critical, the Egyptian government is also aware of the need to protect the poor. It is good that Egypt wants to improve its social safety net by expanding its cash transfer system to the poorest members of society. The system Egypt is designing aims to reach an extra half a million households this year and could expand to another one million households over the next two years. The World Bank will provide initial support of US$400 million to this program.Finally, the private sector can only be successful if it operates in a business climate that encourages competition and levels the playing field. Reforms in this area will be critical to making Egypt’s economy grow. A successful private sector can create the jobs and livelihoods that millions of people are waiting for. Moreover, the government knows that in order to unleash the private sector it needs to address governance. Good governance means rule of law as well as transparent and accountable public institutions and as such it is critical for achieving widely shared prosperity and reducing poverty. The Egyptian government has passed important legislation in this area. But the temptation to stay away from tough issues, like addressing corruption or lowering barriers for competitors, will be high. So for reforms to yield results they need to be bold, and it will take persistence and strategic focus to stay on course.Egypt has some way to go.If reforms are done well, the benefits for the Egyptian people could be countless. We know from experience that a positive business environment creates a large and diverse set of jobs. Vibrant private sector will contribute to Egypt’s growth by helping develop capital, technological know-how, and management skills.We remain a committed partner to the Egyptian people and often serve as a convening agent for the donor community. Our current portfolio of US$5.5 billion will be scaled up and will increase by US$4 billion in the next 4 years. We are preparing projects that strengthen social protection, increase affordable housing and better access to sanitation.Other key sectors we already support range from transport, energy, to agriculture and irrigation. Together with our hosts we focus on reforms that bring better health services and better education to the poor and vulnerable.It is the young who are currently shouldering the burden of the jobs shortage. More than three-quarters of the unemployed are between 15 and 29 years old. At the same time poverty rates have increased to almost 25 percent. High poverty and high unemployment require serious attention and our joint efforts to improve education and vocational training, especially for the youth.Our private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation, is playing a strong role as well. Over the last four years IFC committed almost US$1.1 billion to 20 projects that are supporting companies with the ability to create jobs, boosting access to finance for small and medium enterprises, and demonstrating Egypt's long-term potential to investors. Looking ahead, it will pursue and strengthen its effort.I am very pleased that the government of Egypt and the World Bank Group have agreed to work together on two issues for the next five years:Creating jobs, particularly for young people through a large and diverse private sector.And improving governance, a key ingredient to achieving social and economic progress.Let me close by reminding all of us that development is not a sprint. It is a marathon. We are all aware of this. Egypt needs an environment in which the private sector can thrive to create the jobs Egyptians need to build better lives for themselves. The country cannot afford to slow the reform progress. So patience and perseverance are important.It is good to see that Egypt is open for business. We should now work hard to push the door as wide open as possible. The people of Egypt expect us to go beyond talking and put words into action.Thank you. Show Less -

Egypt will present itself to the international business community as an attractive investment destination at the EEDC. How do you see the current state of the economy?Egypt’s economy is showing signs ... Show More +of recovery after four years of subdued growth. However, the government is facing the dual challenge of having to nurture an economic recovery while addressing long standing structural issues. These include high unemployment rates, especially among the youth and women, excessive government borrowing needs and unsustainable debt ratios, acute energy needs, and a deteriorated infrastructure base.Youth unemployment is in particular a key challenge for economic stability and inclusion, as 70 per cent of the current 3.7 million unemployed are between the age of 15 and 29.We welcome the fiscal consolidation measures adopted in July 2014. More recently, the Central Bank of Egypt signalled more flexibility in managing the exchange rate. If this reform path and pace are maintained, fiscal sustainability can be realised and the economy can stay on a higher growth path. Recent improvements in economic activity reflect a gradual improvement in confidence, higher investment spending and favourable base effects.It is also good to see that the government wants to step up social spending, but it also needs to make sure that these efforts are better targetted to help and protect the poor while maintaining a low inflation rate.Egypt’s main priority now is to promote private sector-led growth that creates a large, diverse and productive set of jobs for the growing labour force, and bring down unemployment. The country needs to make labour-intensive sectors more attractive and tackle costly fuel subsidies. This would free up resources for the government to enhance social spending to support the poor.What kinds of reforms are still needed?Egypt’s reform to-do list is long. First, it will be important to restore the confidence of people in Egypt and the economic players. This requires a clear economic vision that makes the Egyptian economy more attractive and competitive while building strong and sound institutions.Reforms that would support greater private investment include maintaining a stable and transparent tax regime, simplifying business regulations and securing adequate energy supplies with a focus on increasing the share of renewables. Also, an ambitious private sector-led training programme would help address an acute skills gap.Second, both the Egyptian people and the private sector want a climate that is open and encourages competition and levels the playing field. For this to happen, the country will need to foster good governance and strengthen its checks and balances.This means that transparent and accountable public institutions and the rule of law are critical for promoting shared prosperity and reducing poverty. Egypt has some way to go. It is important not to shy away from tough issues, like addressing corruption or lowering barriers for competitors.Third, on the social front, the country has clearly realised that economic growth has to be inclusive and reach all segments of the population. The World Bank is providing technical and financial support to the government’s social reform plan that focuses on redirecting resources and enhancing social services provided to the poor; and building a solid social safety net.Do you expect the conference to succeed in attracting the targeted $15 billion to $20 billion in investments?This is an important event, and the objective is ambitious. It shows that Egypt is open for business. It gives the world the opportunity to learn more about the country’s vision. For the World Bank Group it is part of our ongoing dialogue with our Egyptian counterparts.Egypt should build on the recent improvement in markets and investor sentiments following the adoption of structural reforms in July 2014. Investors are now looking to Egypt to continue on this path. The best way to do that is to signal that there is political will to install a credible medium-term reform programme that improves investors’ confidence and the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy.There are certainly opportunities. For example, the agricultural sector has been attracting significant interest as Egypt has demonstrated the ability to develop a highly profitable horticulture sector, which has gained access to demanding markets in Europe and the Middle East. Basic infrastructure needs for supply chain logistics can be developed through public-private partnerships.Another emerging opportunity for investors in Egypt is water supply and sanitation, with new desalination and water and wastewater treatment infrastructure. This is a good time for investors to develop knowledge of the sector in anticipation of future deals.Do you think the developments in Libya and the expected involvement in military action in Yemen will undermine the appeal of Egypt as an investment destination?You cannot choose your neighbours, but to avoid spillovers it is critical for a country to grow its economy and strengthen its social fabric. Egypt should be a source of stability in a difficult neighbourhood to attract investors. This is why it is important for it to stay on course with its reform agenda and build on recent signs of recovery, improvements in its economic fundamentals and greater investment spending.From 1999 to 2010 you helped engineer Indonesia’s reform programme, putting the country on the path to economic recovery. What are the similarities between Egypt now and your country in the late nineties?Every country is different. Egypt is dealing with a vast gap between high expectations and the reality of limited budgets and even capabilities. This is a test in itself. And we dealt with similar issues in Indonesia.There is a lot of volatility, uncertainty and the danger of political opportunism. In this mix it is important to do the right reforms but also to reform in the right way. People need to benefit, they need to feel that their hardship is recognised. And no stone should be left unturned to find resources and improve inclusion.In Indonesia our reforms started with an emphasis on the rule of law. We covered everything from media freedom and social inclusion, to elections, corruption, decentralisation and anti-trust rules. We ratified new public-finance legislation and were open about our budget process. It was critical to be transparent and accountable.We used independent external audits to avoid conflict of interests and to ensure the integrity and credibility of our public finance management. The independence of the central bank was key in signalling that our macroeconomic management was credible and trustworthy. These reforms were important in our particular context.Each country has to define its own list, but the basic areas of reforms have to focus on the rule of law, good governance, including checks and balances, and a functioning economy.Egypt is tackling some of the issues already. It will be critical to not stop half-way.What are the main tips you give to a country in political and economic transition?Political and economic transitions, and even crises, allow countries to build better and stronger foundations, provided that they do not allow the opportunity to go to waste. If a country wants more than to survive a transition, in fact, if a country wants to come out better than before, it cannot afford to rest on its successes.As I mentioned earlier, the key areas to focus on are the rule of law, good governance, a functioning economy and social inclusion. But economic success without accountability and social inclusion is difficult to sustain. It is therefore critical to ensure that the people feel part of the transition and part of the success.The prescribed panaceas by international donors for Egypt’s economic woes includes the slashing of subsidies and increasing taxes. What kind of social policies should Egypt undertake to cushion the effect of these changes and make the targeted economic growth inclusive?The problem with untargeted subsidies is that they benefit the rich more than the poor because the rich use more of the resources. Subsidies also encourage unnecessary consumption and are a very heavy financial burden. When your resources are limited you need to spend them efficiently and effectively. Untargeted subsidies are neither.Tax increases also need to be targeted in a transparent and effective way to support private sector growth and an inclusive growth. Social policies should make sure that resources reach the poor and vulnerable and ensure that they get good services, for example for health and education.Many countries achieve successful economic reforms by increasing revenues and redesigning spending to find ways to protect the poor and most vulnerable in a sustainable manner. The World Bank is providing Egypt with financial and technical support to enable them to expand access to cash transfers to the poorest members of society. Enhancing the employability of young people and women is another important intervention.Do you think the conditional cash transfers schemes is applicable in Egypt in light of the low level of needed data and high level of corruption? What needs to be done?Targeted and efficient cash transfer programmes have produced impressive results in fighting poverty in countries like Brazil and Mexico. They have also been successful in reducing poverty, malnutrition and increasing school enrollment in poor areas. Egypt’s “takaful and karama” programme, which is focused on the poorest districts in Egypt, has the potential of being the backbone of the social safety net system.Of course, you need to combat corruption. To have a targeted social programme and be able to monitor and evaluate the impact, data is key. We have been supporting this process for the last four years and are ready to provide any further support to ensure the system is in place and working.The country has witnessed many turning points since January 2011. How was this reflected in both the value and the nature of the projects you financed in different sectors during this period?The bank’s work focuses on the poor. But most of the heavy lifting in fighting poverty and encouraging growth will need to come from the Egyptian leadership. However, we can share lessons from other countries and support the ambitious reform agenda. And we can use our regional footprint to see what more the World Bank can do to promote stability and inclusive growth beyond borders.The World Bank has also continued investing in energy, even during the most volatile times, as we believe it is crucial for the private sector to play an active role in creating jobs in Egypt. We have also worked closely with the government on supporting social programmes.What are the main new programmes the bank is currently working on with the Egyptian government?The World Bank is committed to helping the people of Egypt to fight poverty and promote shared prosperity. We are fully engaged in implementation of projects worth $5.5 billion in various sectors, including energy, transport, job creation, water and sanitation, health and education.We are currently preparing projects on strengthening social protection, increasing affordable housing and enhancing access to improved sanitation and sewage services. The World Bank is also promoting programmes to improve the regulatory environment for the private sector to create jobs and service delivery by public sector entities.Observers are concerned about the increased role of the military in the Egyptian economy, to the extent that it is crowding out the private sector in certain activities, especially those funded by Gulf aid. How does the World Bank see this?A thriving and dynamic private sector is the key to job creation and economic development in Egypt. As mentioned earlier, encouraging an open economy, competition and a level playing field is critical to attract investors. I know from experience that it may not be easy to do that, but we are working with the government to provide an environment in which the private sector can thrive to create the jobs Egyptians need to build better lives for themselves.There are reservations about Egypt’s human rights record, especially after July 2013. To what extent does this affect your decision to disburse aid to any country?The well-being of people is critical to our mission and our goals of ending poverty and promoting shared prosperity. Transparency, freedom of information and the rule of law are preconditions for sustainable development. These are principles that we stress again and again in all our engagements. We condemn any departure from these principles. 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WASHINGTON, March 12, 2015 – World Bank Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, Sri Mulyani Indrawati will visit Egypt and Tunisia from March 12 to March 19 to hold meetings with government off... Show More +icials and visit World Bank funded projects.In Egypt, Dr. Indrawati will lead the World Bank Group’s delegation to the Egypt Economic Development Conference in Sharm El Sheikh. The delegation will include: Jin-Yong Cai, Executive Vice President and CEO of the International Finance Corporation, the World Bank Group private sector arm; Dimitris Tsitsiragos, IFC Vice President for Global Client Services; Hafez Ghanem, World Bank Regional Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa region, as well as senior managers.Dr. Indrawati is scheduled to speak at the conference before holding official meetings in Cairo and visit World Bank funded projects, including the Giza North Power Plant project which demonstrates the Bank’s support to reliable energy supply and is creating opportunities for local communities. She will also visit the Enhancing Access to Finance MSE’s project that is generating employment for underserved communities. Dr. Indrawati will have the chance to engage with the business community, civil society representatives including youth to discuss the various challenges they are facing such as education and finding employment.“This visit will be an opportunity to deepen our ongoing dialogue with our Egyptian counterparts at this critical stage in the country’s development,” said Sri Mulyani Indrawati, World Bank Managing Director, “Promoting social inclusion and shared prosperity will be as critical as fostering growth.”In Tunisia, Dr. Indrawati will meet the Tunisian President, Béji Caid Essebsi and Prime Minister Habib Essid and members of his cabinet. She will also visit Sonede, the national water utility to see the results of a World Bank supported urban water supply project and a micro-finance project funded by the International Finance Corporation, where key beneficiaries are women. The program includes a dinner with civil society representatives to hear differing views on Tunisia’s social and economic challenges. Dr. Indrawati will also participate in a university debate on potential lessons from global experience for the post-transition period in Tunisia.“This will be my first visit to Tunisia since taking up my post as vice president earlier this month,” said World Bank Regional Vice President Hafez Ghanem. “I look forward to discussing with the government and civil society how Bank support can best help channel the momentum of the political transition into creating an open and dynamic economy that attracts investment and provides opportunities for all Tunisians.”Ahead of the visit to Egypt and Tunisia, Ghanem will visit Saudi Arabia March 11-12 for official meetings with the government and Arab development funds.The World Bank’s current portfolio in Egypt amounts to US$5.4 billion and includes 26 projects in key sectors such as energy, transport, water and sanitation, agriculture and irrigation as well as health and education. In Tunisia, the World Bank has a US$1.2 billion portfolio aimed at supporting economic recovery and strengthening governance with projects such as budget support loans, a line of credit for small and medium enterprises, and preparation of high impact investment projects in key sectors such as decentralization, vocational training, and private sector development.About the World Bank GroupThe World Bank Group plays a key role in the global effort to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. It consists of five institutions: the World Bank, including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA); the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). Working together in more than 100 countries, these institutions provide financing, advice, and other solutions that enable countries to address the most urgent challenges of development. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org, www.miga.org, and ifc.org. Show Less -

WASHINGTON, March 11, 2015 – The World Bank has suspended operations in Yemen following a thorough review of the impact on Bank programs of recent political and security developments. The suspension a... Show More +pplies to all projects financed by the International Development Association, the Bank’s arm for the world’s poorest countries, and Bank managed trust funds.The review was initiated in early February, 2015 and concluded that the situation in Yemen had deteriorated to the degree that the Bank was unable to exercise effective management over its projects. This decision was based on a significant decline in the ability of Bank staff to communicate and coordinate with government counterparts, and that many project locations have become inaccessible preventing full fiduciary and management oversight.The World Bank remains fully committed to supporting Yemen in addressing the urgent needs of it most vulnerable population and laying the foundations for sustainable and inclusive growth. The Bank will continue to monitor the situation closely and will lift the suspension as soon as conditions are reestablished that allow for full reengagement with government counterparts and appropriate supervision and fiduciary oversight.The Sana’a office of the World Bank was temporarily closed on February 18, 2015, as a precautionary measure in response to the rapidly changing security environment. A letter announcing the suspension of disbursement of funds to Bank programs has been issued to government authorities. Show Less -

Washington, March 2, 2015 – The World Bank Board of Directors today approved a US$200 million loan to support Morocco’s competitiveness strategy and encourage reforms for productivity and growth. The ... Show More +Development Policy Loan (DPL) reform program addresses needs critical for simplifying procedures for business and enforcing rules for competition to create a more enabling and transparent business environment. These reforms are expected to energize investment and trade, and help create high-value jobs and a more vibrant private sector in Morocco.Over the past decade, Morocco has carried out a series of reforms to update its regulatory framework and attract more foreign investment. The reforms have made a significant impact on Morocco’s business environment. By modernizing its commercial framework, and easing regulatory procedures over the past few years, Morocco has made a significant leap in the 2015 edition of Doing Business, ranking 71 out of 189 economies, compared to 94th in 2012.“Morocco made good headway in improving its overall competitiveness framework and carrying out business environment reforms,” said Simon Gray, World Bank Country Director for the Maghreb. “Yet bolder reforms, and further diversification of the Moroccan economy, will help set the country on a stronger path to join other emerging countries.”The second economic competitiveness DPL is designed precisely to boost Morocco’s efforts. The loan approved today will continue to support reforms launched under the first loan in 2013, aimed notably at simplifying procedures for creating and running a business. It will also support the upgrading of Morocco’s trade policy framework to put them in line with the country’s international commitments. The DPL supports economic governance reforms, too, by strengthening the role and prerogatives of the Competition Council and National Commission for the Business Environment—two key Moroccan economic agencies.“The operation is crucial to developing an investment climate that responds to the needs of all types of companies, in particular small and medium ones, to improve Morocco’s diversification and export capacity,” says Philippe de Meneval, World Bank Project Team Leader. “Furthering these reforms through sustained support for their implementation will give Morocco the potential for greater competitiveness in the medium to longer term.”The operation focuses on cross-cutting reforms and actions linked to the trade and investment constraints, identified by public and private sector stakeholders as limiting the impact of government efforts on the performance of various economic sectors. Improvements to transparency and governance is another cornerstone of the current DPL: These should create a more level playing field, especially for smaller enterprises, by reducing the amount of discretion available in how procedures are applied to businesses, and by lifting barriers to investment. Show Less -

The Syrian civil war, which began in
2011 and the ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria)
insurgency which accelerated in June 2014 led to this
report. These events ... Show More +caused tens of thousands to flee and
many chose the relative safety of the Kurdistan Region of
Iraq (KRI). They came as refugees from Syria and as Iraqi
internally displaced persons (IDPs). This happened during
a fiscal crisis which led to a 90% drop in fiscal transfers
from the central government in Baghdad starting in early
2014. This quick note summarizes a report with the same
title on the impact and stabilization costs of the influx of
refugees and IDPs. Impact refers to the immediate economic
and fiscal effects on the KRI economy and budget.
Stabilization cost refers to the additional spending needed
to restore the welfare of KRI residents. Show Less -

TUNIS February 25, 2015 – The World Bank and Tunisia’s Ministry of Finance organized a two-day an orientation workshop this week entitled “Advancing Public Participation in the Budget Process—Linking ... Show More +Budget Analysis to Service Delivery Outcomes”. The training aimed to empower civil society and improve accountability by addressing the institutional bottlenecks and capacity gaps suffered by its stakeholders. With greater budget transparency worldwide, new opportunities have emerged for broader, more effective public participation to help influence budgetary outcomes. Budgets are key documents that lay out a government’s priorities in terms of policies and programs. Democratizing the budget process gives citizens a say in both policy and resource allocation, particularly at local levels. Budget transparency is a prerequisite for public participation and accountability.“Establishing a budget from a revenue perspective is essential” said Mrs. Olfa Soukri, parliamentarian and rapporteur to the finance committee within the House of People’s Representatives. “Citizens need to be able to access budget details per project and ministry but more importantly per region, governorate and district.”In the aftermath of the 2011 revolution, Tunisia has seen an impressive increase in civil society organizations covering a multitude of sectors including fiscal transparency, access to financial information, local budget monitoring, and budget analyses. The activities of these societies range from monitoring how funds are allocated and spent from the grassroots to national levels. Tunisia has joined the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and listed disclosure of budget information as key to its OGP action plan.Eileen Murray, Resident Representative at the World Bank office in Tunis, opened the workshop, saying Tunisia was to be one of the first countries in the region to make budget data available to the public in user friendly formats. “The World Bank is very pleased to have had the opportunity to support the Ministry of Finance in this initiative for the development of the Tunisia Open Budget Portal,” she said. The portal will allow the public free access to budget data through the Ministry of Finance official webpage.This training workshop was also seen as a first step towards supporting an open government initiative in a decentralized government environment. It aimed to contribute toward creating foundations for citizen engagement in the decentralization process, and to encourage debate in forthcoming local elections. The objective was also to expand the capacity of Think Tanks and Civil Society Organizations working on issues related to fiscal transparency. Transparency mechanisms include using existing data on budget allocation and expenditure; understanding key entry points for budget analysis to help motivate social accountability; knowing how to present and disseminate such analysis in an user friendly format using “budget briefs”; and becoming “enablers of public dialogue” by learning how to argue for improvement.Mrs Aicha Karafi, Director General and the Ministry of Finance representative to the OGP pilot finance committee highlighted "The development of the Open Budget Platform and putting it online contributed to the achievement of the ministry’s financial transparency policy and constitutes a key commitment for Tunisia’s OGP action plan” .In addition to the governance program, the World Bank Group has a Development Policy Loan series and a portfolio of 22 investment and technical assistance operations in Tunisia. This includes 10 loans for about US$1 billion and 12 grants for $51 million focused on water and sanitation, wastewater, decentralization, financing for micro, small, and medium enterprises, higher education and rural development in underdeveloped regions. Show Less -

ERBIL, February 24, 2015 – The World Bank Group and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)-Iraq, launched today a social protection program of support to promote equity in living standards and reduce... Show More + vulnerability. The program is aligned with the government’s efforts to develop a comprehensive social protection system and contributes to the goals of KRGs Vision 2020 of “freedom, health, welfare, economic security and opportunity for people.”Today’s launch of the technical cooperation program which follows the signing of four technical assistance activities between the World Bank Group and the Kurdistan Regional Government-Iraq (KRG) in November 2014, was held under the auspices of KRG Minister of Planning Ali Sindi. The event was attended by government officials, civil society representatives, parliamentarians, and development and international organizations experts.“We are pleased to have the experience of the World Bank Group to enhance social protection systems in the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq,” said Minister Sindi. “The World Bank will support KRG to meet objectives set out in in Vision 2020, which starts with ‘Putting People First’ as the initial chapter.” Discussions revolved around the different phases of the program including scope, objectives, timeframe and implementation. Global and regional trends in social protection were highlighted and emphasis was placed on how they relate to the local context of social protection systems in KRG.“The World Bank is supporting the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq in its overall socio-economic development,” said Robert Bou Jaoude, World Bank Special Representative for Iraq. “Social protection programs are a critical element in building resilience so that people are better equipped to face shocks and crisis.”The technical cooperation program comprises four activities: stock-taking, benchmarking and assessment of targeting effectiveness; a consultation process; the development of the KRG Social Protection Strategic Framework; and the dissemination process.An inter-ministerial Steering Committee (SC) is being established to guide the work. The SC will ensure that the work done responds to the requirements of the technical cooperation program and is in line with the KRG Vision 2020. It will also overlook the work of the technical groups and maintains clear open channels for coordination and data sharing amongst all key institutions. The Steering Committee will be chaired by the Ministry of Planning, and will include senior representatives from the Ministry of Labor & Social Affairs; Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Education; Ministry of Health; Kurdistan Region Statistical Office; and technical advisors from the Council of Ministers.“The development of the Kurdistan Regional Government Social Protection Strategic Framework will be guided by global best practices,” said Ghassan Alkhoja, World Bank Senior Social Protection Specialist and Task Team Leader. “However, policy options will be presented in a manner consistent with the local KRG context and implementable within a 3-5 year implementation horizon.” Show Less -

The World Bank Group’s second round of discussions with various stakeholders throughout Egypt is taking place this week in Cairo, Alexandria and Aswan to prepare for a new partnership strategy which w... Show More +ill guide the Group’s engagement in the country over the next five years. The 2015-2019 Country Partnership Framework (CPF) aims at supporting Egypt’s development priorities consistent with the regional strategy of the World Bank Group in the Middle East and North Africa and the World Bank Group’s overarching goal of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity. The consultations around the CPF were launched last year and benefited from a wide spectrum of input from the government, civil society, youth, private sector, academia and development partners. Furthermore, online consultation took place to maximize reaching out to online users and listen to their development priorities. The purpose of the current consultations is to report back to the participants from last year’s meetings on the progress so far, and how their input has been taken on board. In parallel, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank, is holding meetings with private sector representatives “We are very pleased to come back to our stakeholders and inform them on how we made use of their valuable input and feedback on how best we can support Egypt. We are very pleased to reach out to various governorates especially those in Upper Egypt,” said Gerard Byam, World Bank’s Acting Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa region. The Country Partnership Framework will be officially presented to the World Bank Group’s Board of Directors in May 2015 after it has been discussed with the Government of Egypt.Consultations in Upper Egypt demonstrate the significance of lagging regions as a development priority for Egypt and also underline the World Bank’s keen interest in listening to input and feedback from stakeholders across the country.The CPF is a joint document of the three WBG institutions - the World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) - and will build on their respective strengths and areas of expertise. The World Bank Group in Egypt: The current portfolio of the World Bank Group in Egypt includes 26 projects for a total commitment of US$5.4 billion in FY15, including 17 IBRD lending operations ($5.27 billion) and 9 major Trust Funds ($139.6 million). The World Bank finances projects for faster delivery of benefits to the people of Egypt in key sectors including energy, transport, water and sanitation, agriculture and irrigation as well as health and education. Between FY11-14, IFC committed a total of almost $1.1 billion in 20 projects (of which $392 million is mobilization). IFC has focused on supporting companies with the ability to create jobs, boosting access to finance for small and medium enterprises, and demonstrating Egypt's long-term potential to investors. IFC has also worked on promoting regulatory reforms designed to spur economic growth; and boosting the skills of young job seekers.In FY2013, MIGA issued a guarantee for US$150 million, reinsuring the United States Overseas Private Investment Corporation’s coverage to Apache Corporation for the exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas helping to keep up the supply of energy with the growing domestic demand. Show Less -

So, what policy lessons can Turkey’s experience offer Bahrain?The sequencing of health reforms can improve the political impact of the process. From early on, Turkish policy makers acknowledged the po... Show More +litical challenges of changing the health sector. Initially, they focused on introducing simple, cost-effective, and highly visible reforms to garner public support. For instance, one of the first reforms was to ban the practice of holding patients in health facilities until their medical bills were paid (2002). This was instrumental to paving the way for larger-scale reforms. Key institutional changes were likewise introduced in carefully planned phases. The time taken gave policy makers the flexibility they needed to assess the reforms and introduce incremental adjustments.The pace of reforms can make or break the process. The rapid implementation of reform is another important aspect of Turkey’s experience. Policy makers set ambitious timelines and monitored progress on the ground closely. This doesn’t mean reforms were rushed. Health service delivery in the public sector was undermined by physicians spending a significant amount of time working in the private sector too (dual practice). Turkey used a gradual approach to tackle this: physicians’ salaries were increased and linked to their performance in hospitals (2003). It was only after a good number of them had voluntarily transitioned from dual practice that the practice was banned in 2010.The macroeconomic and fiscal environment matters. The Turkish economy underwent a decade of rapid economic growth from 2003 to 2013. Coupled with prioritizing health in public spending, this has led to increased funding. Today, Turkey allocates 6.3 percent of its income to health compared to 5.3 per cent in 2003. This has helped finance the expansion of its Green Card Program, a non-contributory insurance scheme for the poor.The consolidation of various entitlement programs helps reduce inefficiencies in health financing. Turkey consolidated five separate health insurance schemes with varying benefits’ packages and contribution rates into one Social Security Institution (SSI). It was done in stages: three insurance schemes—Sosyal Sigortalar Kurumu (SSK) (for formal sector employees), Bag-Kur (for the self-employed), and Emekli Sandigi (for retired civil servants)—were integrated in 2006; a civil servants program was transferred to the SSI in 2010; and finally the Green Card Program became a part of the SSI system in 2012, unifying all entitlements. Benefit packages were harmonized and health premiums (contributions) were linked to income.Health financing reforms should be accompanied by changes in health service delivery. To end fragmentation and duplication in public sector service delivery, the SSK hospital network was integrated into the Ministry of Health’s system in 2005. The family medicine program was piloted (2005) and rolled out nationwide (2010).Primary health care reforms pay off. Today, more than 20,000 family physicians provide primary and preventive care services free of charge. Family physicians receive higher salaries if they care for pregnant women and for children, and for serving in remote or less developed areas. Although there is still not enough public health care to cater for everyone, the primary health care reforms have been well received by the public.The study tours the World Bank organized for Bahraini officials to Turkey and to Estonia provided Bahrain important lessons on how best to put new health policies in place as Bahrain embarks on its own reform of social health insurance, provider payment systems, and provider autonomy. What resonated with us—as well as the Bahraini delegation—the most, was the ‘patient-centeredness’ of the new Estonian and Turkish systems. The strong emphasis on health as a right was the cornerstone of reform. Show Less -

ERBIL, February 12, 2015 – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is facing an economic and humanitarian crisis as a result of the influx of Syrian refugees (starting in early 2012) and more recently... Show More + the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in 2014. According to a newly completed KRG – World Bank report, economic growth contracted 5 percentage points in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), and poverty rate more than double increasing from 3.5 percent to 8.1 percent.The report, Economic and Social Impact Assessment of the Syrian Conflict and ISIS Crisis, provides national and regional policy makers with a technical assessment of the impact and stabilization costs needed for 2015, associated with the influx of refugees and IDPs. The stabilization cost for 2015 is estimated at US$1.4 billion in additional spending above and beyond the KRG budget. This estimate could get much higher depending on how long the crisis persists. While the KRG has been responsive to addressing the needs of the displaced population up till now, more resources are needed to avert this humanitarian crisis and address the needs of the displaced population in the medium and long-term. Impact refers to the immediate economic and fiscal effects on the KRG economy and budget, while stabilization cost refers to the additional spending that would be needed to restore the welfare of residents of the KRI.“The international community remains deeply concerned by the circumstances facing the refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq,” said Robert Bou Jaoude, World Bank Special Representative for Iraq. “We hope that this assessment will support the KRG’s dialogue with its national and international counterparts and that a swift resolution to this problem will be identified.”The study highlights how prices and unemployment have increased, and refugees and IDPs entering the labor market are pushing wages down. A surge in violence led to supply side shocks. The ISIS crisis has had a significant effect on trade of goods and services. Transportation routes were disrupted. Foreign direct investment flows have declined and operations of foreign enterprises have been adversely affected. Disruption of public investment projects have had a negative impact on the economy.“As a result of the Syrian conflict and the ISIS crisis, KRI’s population increased by 28 percent placing strains on the local economy, host community, and access to public services. We accepted and treated them as our own by providing access to all public services in our region," said Dr. Ali Sindi, KRG Minister of Planning. “While our government has allocated significant resources―through the Immediate Response Plan―to accommodate the needs of the displaced population, it cannot address this big scale humanitarian crisis on its own. Greater support from the national and international partners will be needed to rise above this humanitarian crisis and meet the needs of the displaced.”The report is an outcome of close collaboration between a wide spectrum of World Bank experts and regional government institutions and international partners. “A national and international response is needed in the immediate future and in the medium-term there is a need for structural reforms,” said Sibel Kulaksiz, World Bank Senior Economist and Project Leader. “The authorities have already recognized the need for economic reforms and the diversification of the economy. Indeed, one of the main pillars of the KRG Vision is the development of a diversified economy driven by the private sector.” Show Less -

Let’s learn to speak (up)!One of the main difficulties faced by first year students is their poor command of language, both in Arabic and French, Morocco’s second official language. “These students co... Show More +me with significant weaknesses when it comes to writing, reading or expressing themselves,” Settar said. “All their lives, they have been silenced in classrooms and have never been asked to speak in public.”While most of their schooling is in Arabic, instruction is in French at university, adding another layer of difficulty. Poor communication skills undermine students’ self-esteem. French language support classes at Ain Sebaa have helped curb the drop-out rate from about 54% in 2007–2010 to 46% in 2010–2013.Extra-curricular activities are also another opportunity for students to develop their communications talents. A program to improve ‘soft skills’ and encourage creativity in art, public speaking and citizen engagement has been developed. When you roam the campus and see the students’ pieces of art on display, you get a sense of how much their own personal development is critical to their learning.Settar is proud of her 5,000 students; she knows most of them by name. She believes the university is there to serve students and not the other way around.‘Together, we can deliver the best’With no other budget than the standard amount allocated to cover the university’s general fees, the faculty has nonetheless managed to mobilize external funding and develop a number of programs. Chourouk, the former student, said the model should be replicated if Moroccans wanted public universities to help peoples’ careers.The World Bank has supported Morocco in its efforts to reduce the skills gap and ease the general school-to-work transition. The Skills and Employment Development Policy Loan (DPL) provided two separate batches of funding of US$100 million each. This support was specifically aimed at measures to improve the employability of graduates who face an unemployment rate of 17 percent—almost double the national average.Measures include expanding the use of a module of 80 hours of foreign language learning, computer literacy, communication, and life skills, to all universities including Ain Sebaa Faculty. “This is good but not sufficient,” said Settar, adding that a centralized system of tight regulations and budget allocation mechanisms were not helping universities adjust to student needs or engage stakeholders and other partners.“The achievements of the Ain Sebaa faculty are exceptional, but show that a public university can provide quality education and develop an impressive record of job placement for its graduate if there is strong leadership and the flexibility to adjust to the needs of both students and the economy,” said Kamel Braham, World Bank Task team leader for the Skills and Employment DPL. Show Less -